Will Packer has joined the chorus of voices in the #OscarsSoWhite discussion that’s swirling online following this year's Academy Awards nominations. The executive producer of Straight Outta Compton slammed the lack of diversity among the Oscar nods on his Facebook page this past Friday (Jan. 15).
The 88th Academy Awards have caused the most controversy in recent memory since leaving out the N.W.A biopic, which broke records at the box office over the summer.
“To my #OscarsSoWhite folks who are angry at the absurd lack of diversity highlighted yet again by this year’s Oscar noms. Trust me, I get it,” Packer posted to Facebook.
The 87th Academy Awards also caused controversy over the lack of black actors and films nominated, but leaving Straight Outta Compton out has kicked things up a notch. While the film did earn a Best Screenplay nomination, many feel that it should have given many more accolades.
In his post Packer did take the time to congratulate the Oscar nominees, which included the screenwriters for his film Jon Herman and Andrea Berloff. He also expressed that he wanted to give accolades to those who were conveniently left out, including Beast of No Nation’s Idris Elba, Creed’s Michael B. Jordan, Concussion’s Will Smith and Star War’s John Boyega.
Packer is not the only celebrity to react after the nominations Thursday, and Chris Rock and Al Sharpton also joined the voices speaking out against the lack of diversity, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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The fellow producer said to TMZ, “It’s a great movie. For sure. But you know we’re getting recognized on a whole lot of other levels, so everything from here on out is gravy.”
Some other levels might include the film grossing a record $200 million worldwide and holding the title of highest grossing musical biopic of all time according to boxofficemojo. It also remained the No. 1 movie to see in the US for three consecutive weeks following it’s release.
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